PROJECT MAESTRO
WORKING
TOGETHER
COLLEGES
DISTRICT
LABOR
MANAGEMENT
SYTEMS USERS
INFO TECH
MODERNIZING ALL EMPLOYEE SYSTEMS TO REVITALIZE OPERATIONS
WHAT’S NEW
NO. 1
JULY 29, 2004
EMPLOYEE-CENTERED SYSTEM ON ITS WAY!
A Message from the Chancellor
When January 1, 2005 arrives, Los Angeles Community College District will begin to experience what Project MAESTRO is
all about: modernizing, revitalizing, and whenever possible, simplifying the District’s complex and vast human resource,
payroll, and employee benefit systems. The new systems involve much more than installing new computer hardware and
software on employee desktops throughout the District. The new systems are employee-centered in that technology allows
employees direct web access to easily and accurately submit changes or to review personal information on their assignment,
payroll, and benefits. It is important for all employees to be aware and informed of the many changes underway. To help
with this process, Project MAESTRO is launching its new newsletter “What’s New.” Since many of the changes will affect
the way the District will handle your employment information and pay, I encourage you to read the newsletter weekly.
Peter Landsberger
Project MAESTRO:
More than a Computer Upgrade
Computer technology has always been apart of the
LACCD. The District’s computer systems have
undergone changes. Project MAESTRO is more than a
computer upgrade. Project MAESTRO is updating many
of the District’s business practices. The newly revitalized
business operations take advantage of improvements
made possible with new technology available today and
the result of a cooperative effort of district and campus
employees, union representatives, and management staff
working together to improve the way we work.
The traditional approach to technology
focuses on the computer. Employees
complete and submit a variety of forms
to various offices throughout the
LACCD. Processing staff then review,
correct, approve or reject each transaction for the
computer. Some of the data on each form might be
copied for departmental records or, in recent years,
entered into a shadow system, a departmental computer
designed to “fill in the gaps” of the main computer
system. As each transaction makes it way to its final step,
numerous hands manually push each paper-form through
what amounts to a maze of people, procedures, and
processes. Despite the best of intentions complicated
processes can result in late and inaccurate transactions.
Today’s technology allows a focus on the
employee rather than the computer.
Employees will be able to accurately and
easily enter a request directly into the District’s
computer system and to even review their records.
Processing staff will have immediate access to the
information needed to do their job. The new focus allows
work processes to be simplified and transactions to be
completed accurately and in less time than was possible
in the past. Employees will devote their time to assisting
others and problem solving instead of hunting for a “lost”
paper-form.
Putting the Pieces Together
Changing from a paper-based to an
information-based organization involves
much more than changing technology.
Business operations must also change.
Project MAESTRO brought campus and
district employees together to review
existing procedures and develop new ways of doing
things. For example, current procedures require five
steps for employees if they wish to change their “W-4”
exemptions for tax withholding purposes. First, they
must obtain the special card. Second, they must fill it out
correctly. Third, they submit the card to the location
payroll office. Fourth, the payroll office keys in the
information into the “DEC” computer system. Finally,
the card is filed. Since the new system permits direct
entry by employees of “W-4” information, one step is all
that is necessary.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
• To learn more about the new system, click on the
District Website at http://albacore.laccd.edu/hr/
Project MAESTRO is about change. “What’s New” and other Project
MAESTRO communications are sent primarily through email. Until all
employees have computer access, hard copy will also be posted on the
LACCD Bulletin Boards at each location.
• To send a comment, email: MAESTROeditor@laccd.edu